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There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects. [1] Fortunately, plants don't seem to generally absorb lead.[2] It may be in

There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects. [1] Fortunately, plants don't seem to generally absorb lead.[2] It may be in the soil, though, which means you should carefully wash your plants before eating them. It does seem to be a big deal, though, that chickens absorb lead and that the lead ends up in their eggs. There are many people who have backyard chickens who likely aren't aware of this. [1] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poison... [2] https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/soil-compost/should-i-worry-about-heavy-metals-my-garden-soil https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/soil-compost/sho...

giantg2 4y ago
Plants can absorb lead. This is especially true in poor, acidic soils, and for root vegetables. While there's no known safe level of lead, they do set action limits because effects under that level are not known or are negligible. It's also not practical to set a level of zero in many cases, such as soil levels for crops. So again, why would it be unsafe to simply live there? Where else would they live? Is there anywhere that is lead free (since the argument is that any level is unacceptable)? What level do you consider safe to live around?
- selfhoster11 4y ago
  Does this mean that root vegetables as similar natural "lead absorbers" can be used to remove lead from the soil?
  - giantg2 4y ago
    It can. But it would likely be too slow and deplete the other nutrients. At that point, you might as well just replace the soil.
ensignavenger 4y ago
I live in a town that used to be a lead mining community. I know some folks around here who have backyard chickens.. in fact, I get eggs from one of them (though they live in a ways away from where I think the lead mining was, so hopefully we are safe..) This is a very interesting news to me. I wonder if there is a cheap and easy way to test the eggs to see if they are absorbing lead from the soil?
- giantg2 4y ago
  You might be able to send two samples to a soil testing facility - one with just soil, the other with 50% soil and 50% soil with 50% eggs. Maybe want to let it compost so it doesn't stink too much in the mail/lab. Or ask the lab if they can test an egg. Other labs should be able to, but probably more expensive.

giantg2 4y ago

Plants can absorb lead. This is especially true in poor, acidic soils, and for root vegetables. While there's no known safe level of lead, they do set action limits because effects under that level are not known or are negligible. It's also not practical to set a level of zero in many cases, such as soil levels for crops. So again, why would it be unsafe to simply live there? Where else would they live? Is there anywhere that is lead free (since the argument is that any level is unacceptable)? What level do you consider safe to live around?

selfhoster11 4y ago
Does this mean that root vegetables as similar natural "lead absorbers" can be used to remove lead from the soil?
- giantg2 4y ago
  It can. But it would likely be too slow and deplete the other nutrients. At that point, you might as well just replace the soil.

ensignavenger 4y ago

I live in a town that used to be a lead mining community. I know some folks around here who have backyard chickens.. in fact, I get eggs from one of them (though they live in a ways away from where I think the lead mining was, so hopefully we are safe..) This is a very interesting news to me. I wonder if there is a cheap and easy way to test the eggs to see if they are absorbing lead from the soil?

giantg2 4y ago
You might be able to send two samples to a soil testing facility - one with just soil, the other with 50% soil and 50% soil with 50% eggs. Maybe want to let it compost so it doesn't stink too much in the mail/lab. Or ask the lab if they can test an egg. Other labs should be able to, but probably more expensive.